I sat in the back seat of my car while Jess and Derek sat in the front. We were heading towards Uptown Chicago. This is the only area the Faye still has some influence.

"What exactly does this family do for people anyway?" Derek curiously asked

"They were the protectors of users in this city," I said while looking the window

"wasn't that Francis' job?" Derek responded while not taking his eyes off the road

"not exactly" Jessica chimed in this time, "His responsibility is just to keep nonuser safe and away from finding out the truth about magic."

I jumped in and finished her thoughts, "Similar but different at the same time."

Derek nodded his head and didn't respond to the topic anymore. Instead, I looked out the window and lost myself in thoughts. That's was until I heard Jessica giggle from the front seat. I turned my head to see Jessica laughing and tracing circles around Derek’s forearm. I felt a sense of anger and jealousy rise up from my stomach once again, watching the two of them interacting with each. Especially knowing how flirty Jessica can be when someone catches her eyes.

I attempted to turn my head and not pay attention to their action, but the consist sound of their giggling was irritating. I couldn't believe that he would be flirting with another girl right in front of me. I admit that it was partially my fault for rejecting him, but what exactly did he want me to do? I can't risk getting attached, to just lose him quickly.

“So Derek, how did you and Em meet?” Jessica's voice brought me out of my thoughts

Derek looked at his rearview mirror, directly into my eyes “ Well, Emily here was supposed to be my next mark.”

“Mark?” Jessica’s voice sounding intrigued by where the topic was heading

I let out a groan, as I remember the awkward meeting. When I had gone into Derek’s apartment, it was with the full intention of finding out a better into Micheal’s gang. I did expect instead to go out on a journey that leading directly to closing the main reason for why everything reason. So I guess everything working out in the end.

Jessica laughed loudly, “Oh god, did all that really happen? Who would have thought that you would meet someone as interesting as Derek.”

Derek had been parking the car and turned his attention to Jessica’s eyes. They didn't say a word to each and only focused on losing themselves.

I coughed to grab their attention, “Can we go? It's not like we have a city to save or anything.”

Jessica gave me a weird glance before getting out of the car. On the other hand, Derek laughed and gave me a knowing smile.

“So where to Jess?” Derek asked her

“We don't go anywhere, he comes to you” Jessica responded

Derek gave her a confusion looking “what? How would he know we are here.”

I felt all the hair in my body stand up, and the other must've felt the fluctuation of mana since they perked up. From beside us, an older man in his late thirties walked towards us. He had messy black hair on top and short gray hair alongside the side. He had a slightly overgrown beard that while it was shot, still appeared full and went well with his face. He had amber eyes that held a bit of a shine to them.

“To whom do I owe the pleasure of meeting?” Xavier deep voiced vibrated through the air

“You have the pleasure of seeing me again” I stepped up

Xavier's eyebrow rose, and he rubbed his chin “Ah yes, I remember you. I guess your conscious brought you back to me, correct?”

Rolling my eyes, I grabbed the pouch inside the car and tossed it over to Xavier “This is should more than enough to make us even.”

Xavier caught the pouch and ruffled through the bag, carefully looking over the mana gem that resided inside.

“These should be good enough, now what is the real reason for your visit?” He asked before making the bag disappeared before our eyes

“We have a proposition,” Derek said

“A proposition, you say?” Xavier was finally started to give us his full attention

“Yes, as you already know, Micheal’s little group has been causing too many problems. From taking over your territory to killing off some of the high officials in the church,” I said, walking closer to him, “Its a win-win situation.”

Xavier facial expression went solemn, as he pondered over what I had asked. His gaze was careful and was taking note of every of our action.

My heart sped up as Xavier's cold amber eyes bore into mine. The serious expression on his face solidified and unmoving. Judging my every movement as if the slightest movement will cause him to go off on us.

"Let's go by my place, it isn't safe to talk here," Xavier said

Xavier began to walk down the block, not taking the time to see what our response would be. I let out a gasp of air and follow suit, not bothering in the slight to question it. If something were to occur, Derek and Jessica would be here to back me up.

From the corner of my eyes, I could see Jessica yet again getting close to Derek. I sped up my pace so that I could put them out of my mind. I eventually caught up to Xavier, who was currently paying to a small book in his hand.

He took a quick glance at me before looking back at his book, "Consider yourself lucky that I didn't kill you."

"Still pissed about that?" I responded with a nervously

"You basically stole from me" Xavier gave me a stern glare

I scratched the back of my head "How was I suppose to know the spell scroll would activate on its own"

"Its called reading the Do Not Touch sign."

I didn't respond and just let the last comment hang up in the air. I saw Xavier another glance at me before looking back at the pair behind us.

"You know if they are bothering you that much then speak up" Xavier spoke up

I didn't get to say anything as Jessica stepped in front of us. Her skin completely encases in metal, her magic. Something hit her as spark came off her and onto the ground.

"GET DOWN!" She screamed

We all listened and ducked behind a building as more shots effectively hit Jessica. It was until the last one hit her with enough force that it sent skidding a few backs.

"Let's go, Jess," I screamed at her to hurry.

From behind us Xavier had placed his hand on the wall and recited an incantation. A portal appeared on the wall leading to a common room.

"Get in, it will drop us in my shop" Xavier stepped back from the portal.

We all followed suit and jumped through the portal, landing in the heart of Xavier's store. I turned around in time to see Jessica being hit one last time before coming through the portal. Hurridly stepping forward, I caught Jessica as she slumped down to the ground. The previous shot penetrated through her metal skin, leaving an entry hole on her lower back.

Xavier quickly closed the portal behind us and quickly move towards us. He inspected the wound momentarily, before letting out a breath of air. Derek, on the other hand, checks the different parts of her body for anymore injury.

"I'm fine guys," Jessica said slowly getting up before wincing

I pushed her back down on the ground, "Don't move."

"She right," Xavier chirped in "We need to get that bullet out of you."

Xavier got up and begun looking around the room in search of something.

"Do you think it was him?" I asked Derek

"Anemoi? Maybe, it didn't follow his M.O" Derek said

"Who is Anemoi?" Xavier said as he kneels next to Jessica "also hold her down, I will pull out the fragment out her back."

I do as Xavier said and hold Jessica down. She tried to shake me off, but I simply put more pressure on her.

"Don't move so much, if we don't remove the bullet, then it will get worse" Xavier calmly said

She stopped struggling and stood still, showing that she understood. Xavier got to work quickly to remove the piece of metal inside of her.

"Anemoi is a hit placed on us by Micheal," Derek said, "He wants us gone."

Xavier pulled the piece of metal out "And now you led him to me, thank you very much for making my job more difficult."

Derek quickly places his hand over the wound and cauterize it.

"Alright, all she should be able to heal properly now" Xavier sighed "Now moving on to the next topic, what are we going to do about Anemoi?"

I helped Jessica up and moved her over to sit up against the wall. Xavier leaned against one of his counters, waiting for us to answer his question.

Jessica spoke up, "Well, we should probably start with figuring out more about the guy. All I can say for sure is that he is a magic user."

I gave her a confused look "Why do you say that?"

"Because there is no way that a regular bullet would have to penetrate her metal skin," Xavier said

I felt a headache coming over the simple thought of having to handle another user. While I have fought users in the past, it always becomes problematic. Users are usually backed by a family, and pissing one off means pissing all of them off. Sitting down next to Jessica, I laid my head against the wall.

I heard Xavier heavily breath out, "Okay, so tell me about that plan to stop Micheal."

Xavier gave a simple nod of his head before standing up and heading out the door that led into the hallway. He faded out from our line of sight the second he did. Derek and I stayed behind in the store section. Jessica had passed at some point to recover mana. While she is a talented user, she always had trouble controlling her flow of mana. Basic spells go up a tier just the sheer amount of mana used.

"What do you think Xavier is doing" Derek asked

"I don't know, he didn't react to our plan," I said turning my head to look at him

He chuckled, "It wouldn't be surprising if he just found us insane. I already think that we are insane."

I let out a small laugh of my own and don't respond. Derek had sat down next to me during the explanation. He leaned his head against the wall and took a deep breath in before letting it all out at once.

"Can't believe that crazy bastard actually sent Anemoi" Derek rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Especially now that we confirm that he is a user."

She shrugged, "Maybe we don't have to confront him if we get rid of Micheal first. There would be no one to pay him, meaning no job for him"

"I don't know" Derek responded expressionlessly

Xavier walked back into the room, motioning us to lift Jessica up and follow him. We did as we were told and followed Xavier down the hallway of his house. He went through a door further down the hall which came to reveal a guest bedroom. Derek and I laid Jessica down on the bed, giving her one more look over to be safe.

"Get settled down, we won't be heading out until your friend here is awake." Xavier said, closing the door behind him "For now, let go to my kitchen and eat something."

We both nodded our head in agreement and followed Xavier. Leaving behind Jessica to rest and heal.